Quilts For Others (QFO) is the Canberra Quilters arm that makes quilts for donation to various local charities- this year approximately 250 have been distributed.
Periodically we get requests for a specific project and a separate effort is made, over and above what is usually done. About two years ago QFO received a request for 40 bed quilts, from Common Ground, a charitable organisation that is developing a project in Canberra to provide permanent, high quality, supportive and safe housing for homeless and low-income people. Common Ground now has funding to proceed with the construction of a building in Gungahlin, which it hopes to be completed by the end of 2014. The accommodation will be self-contained, with individual living, kitchen and bathroom areas and will house mainly young men- the largest group in the high rate of homelessness in Canberra.
Although the building construction completion is 12 months away it takes some time for the quilts to be made. The QFO co-ordinators have asked that you take the following into account if you are going to make a quilt:
- Quilts need to be approximately 150cm square (60 inches) and colours need to be appropriate for mostly young men.
- If you would like to use QFO fabrics for piecing or backing, come and browse the selection on a QFO day.
- If you just need batting to use in a quilt top you already have made contact one of the QFO co-ordinators.
- To help track numbers the QFO co-ordinators have asked that you register your details with them (Contact details are in the Connecting Threads magazine or you could send an email to secretary@canberraquilters.org.au or to blog@canberraquilters.org.au and it will be forwarded.)
Maybe your friendship group could pool your talents and resources to make a quilt for this worthwhile project. Recipients get a great deal of pleasure from their quilt, as well as the practicality of having a warm covering.